Objective To investigate the effects and the mechanism of Chinese herb
anisodamine on PAI 1
expression in LPS stimulated
endothelial cells (ECs). Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured by trypsin digestion method. PAI 1 protein in HUVEC conditioned medium was measured by sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and PAI 1 mRNA
expression in HUVEC was determined by Northern blot analysis. HUVEC nuclear factor kappa B (NF κB) nuclear translocation was assessed by immunocytochemistry technique. Results LPS treatment of cultured HUVECs resulted in a significant increase of PAI 1 protein as well as mRNA expression by these cells. However, when HUVECs were incubated with LPS plus
anisodamine, the upregulation of PAI 1 by LPS was significantly abated. The expression of PAI 1 protein and mRNA was decreased by 30% and 24% respectively compared with LPS treatment alone. Moreover, anisodamine was able to decrease the basal level of PAI 1 protein and mRNA by 74% and 70% respectively. Furthermore, anisodamine could block LPS induced NF κB of HUVECs nuclear translocation. Conclusion Anisodamine inhibits both basal and LPS induced PAI 1 protein as well as mRNA expression in ECs. The inhibition of anisodamine on LPS induced PAI 1 in ECs may take place via the NF κB pathway.